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For guests with more time and a great sense of adventure, our 7-night Cairns – Lizard Island – Hinchinbrook Island – Cairns cruise offers the ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience! Combining both our 3 and 4-night cruises you will discover everything that this memorable region has to offer; the best parts of the Reef, spectacular rainforest trails and beautiful tropical islands including Lizard and Dunk, and the stunning Sudbury Cay.

Discover the very best of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef in style – our 7-night cruise offers the ultimate experience that will make you want to return again and again.

Departs Cairns: Every Monday at 5:00pm and every Friday. (reverse direction click here)

Day 1: Cairns

Board at Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal at 4:00pm. Cruise Trinity Bay and take in the views of Double Island and Palm Cove while enjoying welcome drinks and the seafood buffet.

Day 2: Historic Cooktown

Discover historic Cooktown, with building dating back to the 1870s. Visit the botanic gardens and the James Cook Museum to see original artefacts from the HMB Endeavour. Enjoy an afternoon snorkel and sunset drinks at Turtle Beach on Lizard Island, and see giant trevally and tawny nurse sharks during an after dinner fish feed off the back deck.

Day 3: Lizard Island and Ribbon Reefs

Enjoy the breaktaking natural beauty of Lizard Island. Join an optional hike to Cook’s Look in the early morning to survey the reef. Learn about the tragic fate of Mary Watson and snorkel from the beach over giant clam gardens. This afternoon visit the pristine Ribbon Reef #9 for snorkelling and diving.

Day 4: Ribbon Reefs

Spend a full day discovering the out Barrier Reef, with snorkelling, diving, and marine biologist led tours of Ribbon Reef #3 and Escape Reef.

Day 5: Cairns and Sudbury Cay

Return to Trinity Wharf, Cairns at 8:00am and enjoy some time to explore. You may enjoy a complimentary visit to the Cairns Museum. Reboard your ship at 10:00am, and cruise Trinity Bay. Visit Sudbury Reef, and enjoy snorkelling, glass bottom boat tours, and optional Scuba diving. Finish the day with sunset drinks ashore on the deserted sandy cay.

Day 6: Hinchinbrook Channel and Dunk Island

Cruise the majestic Hinchinbrook Channel whilst enjoying a top deck breakfast in the sunshine. Look for wildlife during a mangrove tour. Stretch your legs on Dunk Island, with a hike up Mt Kootaloo or a beach walk. With the aid of your guides, you may spot the electric blue Ulysses butterfly.

Day 7: Nathan Reef and Coates Reef

Discover Nathan Reef on a guided snorkel: this reef is teeming with abundant fish life, including clownfish and Maori Wrasse. Later, visit colourful Coates Reef – see plate corals and parrotfish during an optional SCUBA dive, or stay dry and view marine life from the comfort of the Glass Bottom Boat, with expert interpretation by your on-board marine biologist.

Day 8: Fitzroy Island and Cairns

Enjoy a rainforest walk or a hike to the lighthouse. Snorkel over fringing reef and swim with Green Sea Turtles, before learning all about them during a visit to the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. Return to Cairns to disembark at 1:30pm.

Accommodation in selected room grade for the number of nights as listed in each itinerary

All meals, prepared by our chef

24 hour tea and coffee

Captain’s welcome and farewell drinks

Access to islands, marine and national parks

Excursions as described in each itinerary

Snorkelling

Services of expedition staff and lecturers including briefings and knowledge-sharing sessions

Port taxes and government charges imposed by government authorities*

Optional complimentary admission to Cairns Museum

*Does not include Environmental Management Charge.

Your cruise price does not include:

Pre and post flights, transfers and hotels

Entry visas/travel permits

Travel Insurance

Scuba Diving

Items of a personal nature including but not limited to phone and internet communications and bar charges (outside of the included drinks package as highlighted), laundry charges and souvenir purchases

Tipping not required:
Other cruise lines automatically add gratuities to your account and service charges to your bar invoices. On Coral Expeditions II, our crew has no other agenda than your delight.

Now that you’ve chosen your cruise, our reservations specialists are on hand to assist with all of your holiday arrangements to ensure your holiday runs as smoothly as possible.

Contact our reservations specialists for advice about making the most of your time before and after your cruise.

To speak to our reservations specialists contact us during business hours on freecall 1800 079 545 (within Australia), use our online Skype facility on the homepage or email cruise@coralexpeditions.com.

Don’t forget, we strongly recommend the purchase of Travel Insurance with any cruise purchase. See below for further details.

Recommended Cairns Hotels

Novotel Oasis Cairns Resort

Beautiful tropical and modern contemporary style is awaiting you at the Novotel Oasis Cairns Resort. Each spacious room features air-conditioning and a private balcony or terrace facing the resort pools, tropical gardens or Cairns city. A short stroll leads to many local restaurants and the Cairns waterfront with it many attractions.

Pullman Cairns International

The Pullman Cairns International (formerly Sebel International) is a beautiful five star heritage-style hotel, located right in the heart of the Cairns CBD. The hotel boasts 321 rooms, your choice of Executive Suites, Premium Rooms, Harbour View Rooms, or City Mountain View Rooms. All rooms are very spacious and include private balconies. Bathrooms feature Italian marble, with back-heated mirrors.

Pullman Reef Hotel & Casino

Nestled in the heart of Cairns just 200 metres from Trinity Wharf, the 5-star Pullman Reef Hotel offers luxuriously appointed rooms in an unmistakenly Tropical North Queensland style and feature light timbers, plantation shutters, spa bath and private garden balcony. Outstanding service awaits at the Pullman.

Pacific, Cairns

Superbly located right on the Esplanade partially overlooking Trinity Harbour and parklands, with easy access to the restaurant precinct, night markets and more. All rooms have private balconies and feature tea and coffee facilities and WIFI. The popular Bushfire Flame Grill features Brazilian inspired, Australian style BBQ.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Comprehensive Travel Insurance is strongly recommended for all travellers as protection against any unforeseen events that may necessitate the cancellation or interruption of your holiday and should be purchased at the same time as you purchase your cruise. It should also include emergency evacuation and repatriation cover.

SureSave, is an Australian company who specialise in travel insurance designed for travellers. SureSave provides world assistance through a customer support team, a claims team and an in-house 24/7 Emergency Assistance division. Underwritten by Lloyds of London, you get peace of mind knowing your security is guaranteed.

Please note: SureSave Travel Insurance policies may only be purchased by Australian residents. For international travellers, please discuss your policy requirements with your local insurance provider.